were awaiting her in the spring
wagon.

"Why, Father, I thought you said to put on my riding habit."

"Maybe I did. But never mind, jump in just as you are--it's getting a
little late."

Chicken Little tried to hide her disappointment. She maintained a
dignified silence until they had crossed the ford and Ernest turned the
horses toward Captain Clarke's.

"Oh, it's at the Captain's."

Her Father nodded and began talking carelessly to Ernest about putting
the orchard in clover another year. She saw there was no information to
be had, until he was good and ready. Ernest took pity on her, however,
just as they turned in the Captain's gate.

"In exactly six minutes you will see the surprise, even if you don't
recognize it."

Chicken Little strained her eyes half expecting to see Katy or Gertie
appear miraculously from nowhere. But they drove into the door yard
without seeing anything or anybody that could possibly interest her.

The Captain was evidently watching for them. He helped her down from the
high wagon in his most courtly manner.

"I am consumed with curiosity to know whether you have pried the secret
from that brother of yours. I infer you have from your habit."

"Habit?" Jane glanced swiftly from her host's quizzical face to her
father and Ernest. They were both smiling broadly.

"Oh, it has something to do with horses--but----"

She never finished the sentence for at that moment one of the Captain's
hands appeared leading two Indian ponies, one a red and white piebald
with a red blanket and side saddle; the other a black, with a blue
blanket and a Mexican cowboy's equipment.

She stared at the horses and she stared at the Captain, not daring to
even hope what had come into her mind. Captain Clarke took the bridle
off the piebald and held down his hand for her foot.

"Up with you, I have persuaded your Father to share his children with me
to the extent of letting me add something to your pleasure and that of
your guests this summer. Ernest, however, has left me his debtor in
advance, for he has not only finished breaking these in to the saddle
but he has tamed the worst-tempered colt on the place as well."

Chicken Little was surprised to see Ernest flush up and stammer.

"Why I--I don't want any pay--I was glad to help out a neighbor."

"That's exactly what I am going to ask you to do, my boy, to help me out
by letting me feel that I can still give somebody pleasure. The ponies
are part of a